To ask if you would keep your child off school because of coronovirus?

[Thelowquietsea]

We got a message from our school that a 'person in the school community' has come into contact with a infected coronovirus person and is now 'self-isolating' for 14 days. Whilst the school considers the risk low, we are told we can keep our child off if we wish.

I have no idea what to do. If we keep DD off, what then? Self-isolate? Surely that must be the only way to completely safeguard yourself but how practical is that?

No idea what to do for the best TBH

Mine never catches anything, she's never even had a cold in 13 years. I would send her to school.

@Mymycherrypie so very true

Rumours there is now a case in South Wales, Port Talbot

What, skip a school run with official permission and get to tell myself I was protecting the wider community?

I'd keep them off like a shot! But to be fair, I am actually in a position to do that.

@Mymycherrypie sadly so true. This is how viruses spread so quickly- because people only think about themselves and how they might be affected. Yes your kids might be fine or have never caught a cold etc but think how many people they could pass it onto who might not be quite to lucky.

My husband is a teacher. My sister just had a baby. I suppose we could kiss goodbye to the baby if she caught it, potentially my husband (asthmatic) and mum too (lupus).

As long as your kids get to school though

@Demigoddess90 no one actually has it on this thread you know...... it's a 0.00000005% chance of catching it in the UK at the mo. 0.0000000025% chance of dying of it. But yeah, we should probably all keep our kids off

But yeah, we should probably all keep our kids off
Yes I know nobody on this thread has it but the question was would you keep your kids off if someone who has been in contact with someone in the school community had it

Yes I would keep mine off.
More facts may come to light over time, and if they get the all clear you can then send the kids in.

And a lot have said they wouldn’t because they’d be alright. Lucky them, indeed.

It’s only 3 days until half term

I’d keep them off (and have a nice isolated time during the hols), and reassess after that.

DC are AFAIK in perfect and robust health. But I am not.

And the amount of spread if someone was infected in a school could be extensive.

I’d be inclined to take the advice of an actual doctor on this one. I don’t think the ‘if you want’ advice from the school is helpful. It’s either a good idea or not.

In a couple of weeks we might well be all in the position of ‘knowing someone in quarantine’ what do we do at that point? Whole country in quarantine?

I'm a pregnant teacher and I am always surprised (and disappointed) when some parents send their children into school when child is ill, ignoring 48 hour policy after sickness etc.

As a ft working mum (5 years of which I was a single parent), I fully appreciate that not sending a child to school can be difficult, but is it fair to put everyone else at risk and also on your child if they are unwell? And by no means all parents work so this isn't always even a consideration!

I'm surprised how many people are saying they'd keep the kids at home actually. I was thinking that DS has already missed a lot of school because of illnesses so I'd be tempted to send him, though not sure in practice- I love to mooch about with him!

I'd love some proper snow if he were off though.

I’d send them in. You wouldn’t keep them off if there was a potential case of flu in the school, would you? It’s no different.

Unless of course your child or a close family member has health issues, of course.

Mine has serious health issues. He already knows that as soon as it gets anywhere near our area we will be self isolating. I have made basic preparations already just incase.

Everyone is saying mine don’t have asthma, mine are robust, mine are healthy.

What about the people they might be infecting

Seems everyone is in agreement that it's sensible for ppl with health issues to stay off, esp if it's only a few days to the holiday.

But seriously, how do you actually see this panning out, because as has been stated, unless everyone is off for the 14 days quarantine period, there's going to be ppl who have been in indirect contact with the original person. So the problem hasn't gone away. Just been put back a few weeks.

Yes I wouldn't send them in.

I'd keep them at home.

The level of scaremongering on mn tonight is truly frightening. Please talk to actual experts for advice rather than believe the "facts" that are being spread on this chat room in various threads. Follow the public health England advice online, call them (they sit within your county council) or dial 111 if you have a genuine concern. Don't listen to people typing utter crap with confidence to high you feel you should believe it.

@mintyneb mine too. And we live near Brighton AND she is supposed to go to clinic in London in 3 weeks.
Cystic fibrosis and diabetes. The two things mentioned that make them vulnerable.
She seems pretty nonchelant about it all, but her 13 year old brother is having a breakdown at the thought of her getting it.
Im trying to run a happy midline position

Not a clue. Got friends deciding this. A few have thought, it’s so close to half term they’re goi Nd to keep kids off and go on hols early... any excuse for time off I think. I don’t think that they’re genuinely worried.

@Demigoddess90 would absolutely send them in. I know at least 5 people who have had the flu in the last 12 months - it is what it is. If we panicked at every merging like we're panicking about this virus no one would ever leave the house again.

I would prefer to keep mine off but not sure what my employer would make of it. They are quite child friendly and I can work from home, but its discouraged if kids are at home. It would be more clear cut if the school closed rather than it being optional.

I wouldn’t have said everyone is in agreement. A lot of people are mostly concerned with their own children’s health and making their decision based on that.

Re the 14 days thing, I am not a doctor or a fortune teller. We might be facing a different situation in 14 days time and advice will change. However doing the decent thing and not potentially making other people poorly because you know you’ll be ok, won’t change. It will always be a selfish thing to do regardless of advice.